Scientists call for all energy drinks to be fitted with warning labels- to prevent cases of anxiety, insomnia, heart palpitations and death.

According to Johns Hopkins scientists, who have spent decades examining the effects of caffeine, energy drinks pose a large number of health risks to those who consume them.

The research claims some energy drinks contain as much caffeine as 14 cans of Coca-Cola and more than 500 milligrams of caffeine, yet consumers are not made aware of the high levels of caffeine they are consuming.

Without adequate labelling consumers do not know they are consuming dangerous amounts of caffeine.

“It’s like drinking a serving of an alcoholic beverage and not knowing if it’s beer or scotch,” says Griffiths.

In a 2007 survey of 496 college students, 51 percent reported consuming at least one energy drink during the last month. Of these energy drink users, 29 percent reported ‘weekly jolt and crash episodes’, and 19 percent reported heart palpitations from drinking energy drinks.

Drinking caffeine can even lead to caffeine intoxication- a recognized clinical syndrome which causes nervousness, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, gastrointestinal upset, tremors, rapid heartbeats, restlessness and pacing and in rare cases, death.

However separate studies praise caffeine, consumed in small doses, for its abilities to boost brain power, mental agility, stamina, concentration and focus. Read more: Nootropics: Increase Your IQ

Griffiths adds that many energy drinks are advertised as ‘dietary supplements’- exempting them from the Food and Drug Administration limit on the caffeine content of soft drinks. The current limit stands at 71 milligrams per 12-ounce can; however energy drinks have anything between 50 to 500 milligrams of caffeine.

The same 2007 survey also revealed that 27 percent of the students surveyed said they mixed energy drinks and alcohol at least once in the past month

“Alcohol adds another level of danger, because caffeine in high doses can give users a false sense of alertness that provides incentive to drive a car or in other ways put themselves in danger,” adds Griffiths.

Griffiths suggests the marketing strategies of energy drink providers are putting the young at risk the most, with campaigns targeting teens and young adults.

Griffiths also notes that most of the drinks advertise their products as performance enhancers and stimulants – a marketing strategy that may put young people at risk for abusing even stronger stimulants such as the prescription drugs amphetamine and methylphenidate (Ritalin).

“It’s notable that over-the-counter caffeine-containing products require warning labels, yet energy drinks do not,” says Chad Reissig, one of the study’s authors.

Read more: Other research suggests that caffeine could reduce the risk of Parkinson’s. For more information go to: Smoking and Caffeine May Prevent Parkinson’s